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Photo by Gregory Case Photography

Since graduating from FIT, Michelle Jackson has made a successful transition from lingerie designer to wearable art, and ultimately to art quilts. In Episode 1002, the 2010 Niche Award-winning fiber artist demonstrates the relationship - and difference - between color and value, and the important part value plays in determining what one sees when viewing a quilt.

In addition, Alex shows how cutting and constructing the Drunkard's Path block can be a snap with the help of the AccuQuilt Go! fabric cutter and dies. All this, show and tell, and a great location - the home of Bob and Barbara Normoyle in Monument, CO - too.

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Join us on a new 12-month quilting journey as we bring you a fabulous quilt designed especially for TQS by Sarah Vedeler. Sedona Star is a spectacular medallion quilt that features a beautiful center star surrounded by a charming array of appliqué elements.

We begin our lesson's this month with the very center of the quilt– the circle and the 9 triangles surrounding it. The circle will be completed in its entirety. The 9 triangles will be set aside until February when they will be added to the quilt top.

Come and join the year-long fun and learning with us.  For the Introduction and January pattern click here.

Be sure to watch Sarah's instructional video lesson for the January pattern available on January 2, 2012.

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Photo by Mary Kay Davis

Have In our 900 series finale, beloved quilter, teacher, author/publisher (of over 100 books!), longtime PBS television personality, and 2011 TQS Quilting Legend-the irrepressible Quilt-in-a-Day Lady, Eleanor Burns-opens her wonderful log home and spacious studio to Alex, Ricky, and the TQS gang.

After Eleanor shares her quilting history and generous sampling of quilts, we peek in on students at work on a quick-and-easy quilt using Eleanor's Fabric Frenzy pattern.  Along the way, Eleanor demonstrates her technique for sewing partial seams, and takes Alex and Ricky on a horse-drawn carriage ride through the quaint town of Julian, CA, where they sample a slice of the famous local apple pie.  All in all, a "delicious" experience you won't want to miss!

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Meet Sarah Vedeler, the creator of the fabulous 2012 Sedona Star BOM.  Sarah learned to sew at about age 6, on her Mum's 1964 Bernina Record.  Mainly making clothes for herself and others, she also dabbled in home decor projects.  During her college years, while earning a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Brighton, England, Sarah admits to not having much time for sewing. 

After a brief career in England as a Software Engineer, Sarah move the the United States in 1998 and continued to work as a Software Engineer and Project Manager. 

With the birth of her first daughter, Sarah became a stay-at-home Mom and rediscovered her love of sewing, quilting and embroidery.  Not long after, she learned digitizing and put all of her software experience to good use in creating her own embroidery designs.  Fueled by a 2nd place win in the Machine Embroidery category of the Arizona Quilters Guild, Sarah embarked on creating larger and more elaborate embroidered applique quilts. 

2008 brought some changes for Sarah and her two daughters, as she became a single mom.  Regrouping in early 2009, Sarah got in touch with her purpose in life - to create beauty, inspiration and infinite creative joy - and decided to channel her energy into doing what she loves, making quilts and spending time with her daughters (the inspiration behind the quilts).  Sarah brings a refreshing perspective to quilting with her unique style, and loves to share her talents with quilters all over the world when she teaches.

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Photos by Gregory Case Photography

Join us in Episode 912 for two great that teachers hit it "out of the park" in a single episode! First up is certified longarm-quilting instructor Pam Clarke, who uses a Gammill Vision to demonstrate her simple techniques for creating complex-looking quilting designs.

What are the designs every quilter should know?  Pam is the expert.

Then designer, author, and teacher Joyce Becker steps up to the plate to show some of her wonderful landscape-inspired quilts, and to demonstrate how she "builds" a mini-landscape, adds texture with variegated thread, and finishes with a frame. It's a home run in any league!

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The Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative’s (AAQI) third annual celebrity quilt auction raised a record breaking $14,025 for the nonprofit.

This year’s theme was the "Stanley Cup Quilt-Off." Twelve quilters in two teams competed for bragging rights, the highest selling quilt earning its maker the MVP award.

The Feed Dogs team members were Alex Anderson, Hollis Chatelain, John Flynn, Becky Goldsmith, Renae Haddadin, and Sue Nickels.

The Rotary Blades members were Caryl Bryer Fallert, Pat Holly, Libby Lehman, Judy Mathieson, Mary Sorensen, and Ricky Tims.

A Viewer's Choice component to the "Stanley Cup Quilt-Off" was also offered at International Quilt Festival in Houston and online. Each $1.00 donation was counted as one vote, raising an additional $2,277.26 overall. Profits from sales of earrings made with images of each of the 12 auction quilts brought in $1,025, bringing the total for the event to $17,327.26.

Hollis Chatelain raised $2,570 with her quilt "Hollow," (shown above) a 16" x 16" thread-painted, machine quilted image of a woman's face which earned her the coveted MVP award. This is the third year in a row her quilt earned top dollar in the charity auction.

There are new auctions every month.  The December auction began on the 1st and includes a quilt by Paula Nadelstern.  The AAQI sells quilts every day of the year. Their Quilts For Sale page has more than 500 quilts perfect for holiday giving:  http://www.alzquilts.org/quiltsforsale.org

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Really 'Wild' Flowers! Season Two" by Sharon Schlotzhauer

Sharon Schlotzhauer needs your help!  Her 1st place quilt entitled Really 'Wild' Flowers! Season Two! did not make it back home from the recent Houston Quilt Festival.  The quilt measures 62" x 64.5".  Each of the seven flowers depicted is three dimensional.   The quilt went missing on November 7, 2011 somewhere between the show floor and the mailing area.  If you have seen this quilt please contact TQS here immediately.

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Our Production Sponsors Bernina and Gammill are both having fantastic Holiday Sales Events. This is a great time to get the machines you have been waiting for.  Click on the pictures for more information.

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Hey, you BOM stars!  It's your favorite time of the month:  the final installment of the 2012 BOM patterns are ready for you to start stitching.  You’re almost done; with just a few more pieced swag border units to make, a small pieced border with floaters, and four appliqued cornerstones, your quilt will be complete.

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Photo by Gregory Case Photography

Join us in Episode 911 as we return to the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel in Colorado Springs to catch up with Dutch quilt and pattern designer Jacqueline de Jonge, who shares a dazzling collection of her "colourful" quilts, discusses some of her techniques for creating flow through color, and gives us the scoop about what quilting is like in the Netherlands today. She also demonstrates her techniques for paper piecing precise points and curves. As icing on the cake, Ricky shows how to create improvisational, overlapping feathers for machine quilting.